President commits to fast

President commits to fast-track change in Mangaung

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses citizens during a Presidential Imbizo Mangaung Metro, Free State.

Lack of service delivery, corruption, inadequate housing and crime – these are some of the challenges President Cyril Ramaphosa said government will address in Mangaung Metro, Free State.

He recently led a Presidential Imbizo to engage Mangaung residents on the challenges they face daily. The imbizo was part of the District Development Model, which is being rolled out to improve the quality of life for citizens.

It was the second postState of the Nation Address (SONA) Presidential Imbizo where engagement with citizens is themed on the President’s SONA call to action, Leave No One Behind.

“We have heard your concerns and as government, we are going to address them,” President Ramaphosa said during the community engagement at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Cabinet recently approved an intervention by the national executive in the governance of Mangaung Metro, in terms of Section 139(7) of the Constitution.

President Ramaphosa assured residents of the Free State and Mangaung Metro that the national intervention is directed at relieving the dire financial position of the municipality and addressing issues affecting communities.

He added that government is dealing with corrupt officials and that services will be delivered to the people of Mangaung.

“Change is here ... and change is going to continue being present here,” President Ramaphosa said.

Keen to make their voices heard, residents sent over 3 000 WhatsApp messages to the Presidency. President Ramaphosa committed that Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and his staff will look at the concerns raised and respond to them.

Residents speak out

During the mass interaction at the stadium, residents from all parts of the metro were given the opportunity to comment openly and to put questions and com-

plaints to the President and other leaders.

The President then invited Ministers to respond to residents on the issues they had raised. He welcomed community members’ outspokenness, saying the imbizo would assist government in ensuring adequate and sustainable delivery of basic services. “We are honoured that you have heeded our call to become part of the solution,” said the President.

In his response to concerns about crime, Police Minister Bheki Cele assured the community that he will visit the area again in three weeks’ time.

Minister Cele said police will arrest criminals, regardless of their nationality.

“We arrest first then ask later where you come from,” he said.

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu responded to concerns about blocked sewage pipes, saying his department will fix all worn out pipes.

With regard to the province’s roads, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said his department has set aside R1.4 billion to fix the roads.

The Minister said the South African National Roads Agency has been asked to assist with repairing roads in the Free State.

President Ramaphosa said the imbizo must result in the resolution of the service delivery problems raised by the community.

As part of the imbizo programme, the President visited the Vereeniging Interchange, following the extension of Vereeniging Avenue and the construction of a bridge over the railway line. This infrastructure project was initiated for spatial integration and to alleviate traffic congestion.

The President also visited the Motheo TVET Artisans College, where he held conversations with young men and women who are receiving artisanal and entrepreneurship training in areas such as visual arts, beauty technology and jewellery design.

The college is one of the four public Technical Vocational Education and Training [TVET] colleges in the Free State. It comprises six campuses, including a Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rapid Incubator and an artisan academy.

The President encouraged students to follow their passions and pursue entrepreneurship as a means of sustaining themselves and contributing to economic growth.

Mangaung residents inundated President Cyril Ramaphosa with complaints about how government has failed and frustrated them.